Improvement in gathering and plaiting attachments for sewing-machines



flheetssheetl. L. ONZDEYRDONK. T

GATHERING AND PLAITING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING- M.A.GI'J'.IITES. No.192,183. Patented June1-9,1877.

w Pi: H- R P v NPETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C,

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' L. ONDERDONK. GATHERING AND PLAITING ATTACHMENT FUR SEWING- IMACHINES. No 192,183, Patented J'une19,1877.

N.PETERS, PMOTO-LITHOGHAPHER, WQSHINGYON. D C.

" 4 ShetsShee'-t 3. L. ONDERDONK. V GATHER-INGAND PLAITIN'G ATTACHMENTFOR SEWING- MACHINES. j No. 192,183, I Patented June 19, 1877.;

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- L. .ONIDERDON K. Q GATHERING AND PLAQITIN'G ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Patented June 19, 18771 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LANSING QNDERDONK, OF ADAMS STATION, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN GATHERING AND PLAITING ATTACHMENTS FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,183, dated June 19,1877; application filed March 10, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LANSING ONDERDONK, ofAdams Station, Albany county, State of New York, have invented a new anduseful Attachment to be applied to Sewing-Machines for the purpose ofGathering, Plaiting, and Box Plaiting; and I do declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, and such aswillenable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and useit, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which- Like letters of reference mark thecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is one side of my attachment ready to operate. Fig. 2 is theopposite side. The remaining figures represent the component partsdetached and separate.

The parts are described, as far as possible, in the order in which theyoperate, beginning with the source of motion.

A is a presser-foot, as commonly used in sewing machines, exceptingextensions a a and a. B is a lever connectingwith extension a at'a, byscrew or pin, and to the needle set-screw on the needle-bar by loop a,or other suitable device; thus a horizontal movement of the lever isobtained from the perpendicular movement of the needle bar.

Slot E in lever B is to admit crank e of crank-shaft (3.

Plate 1) of lever B is a piece of spring metal hinged at w, and with afixed pin at 3 so that that end may be sprung away from lever B, thepiece moved, and the pin placed in any one of the sockets z, thusmodifying at will the size of slot E, and thereby, lessening orincreasing the movement of crank c. i

The crank-shaft 0 runs through extensions a. and a at c c, and passesthrough slot E in lever B, which gives it (0) motion; it also passesthrough cog-wheel .D, and the parts attached thereto, and connects withplate B of said wheel by a square shoulder, S, as shown in Figs. 5 and19. The cog-wheel D, with its parts attached, is represented in Figs. 1and 2 as it appears in operation.

Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8,and 9 represent the com ponent parts thereof, andFig. 5. is a sectional View of the same. This wheel connectswith slidesE and F by cogs or pins c, and its office is to cause the aforesaidslides to move alternately forward and backward.

Note, that in the absence of its attachments cog-wheel D should turnfreely on cran k-shat't O. In Fig. 5, A is the shifting-platerepresented by Fig. 4. Gr is an adjustable arm, represented by Fig. 8. Bis a plate, represented by Fig. 6. D is the cog-wheel itself.

Inserted in that surface of cog-wheel D upon which its attachments aresuperposed W and perpendicular, and near its periphery, are

small pins 0 0 0, against which operate dogs 75 t, causing cog-wheel Dto move alternately back and-forth to the extent of a revolution orless. Plate B of cog-wheel occupies position as shown in Fig. 5. Thisplate is securely connected to crank-shaft (J by the square shoulder S,causing it to act as a unit with that shaft. Connected to plate B, by asemicircular socket into which they fit, are two dogs, it; against thesedogs, and between them, a spring, d, acts, which tends to force each dogto bear continuously upon pins 000 of cog-wheel D, to avoid passing saidpins in the forward movement of said dogs. The notches as in said dogsare so arranged that instead of the dog being compelled to move back afull space between pins 0 o o of cogwheel D, it (the dog) will act onthe pins if moved half that distance, then engaging in the notch insteadof on the end. Upon each of said dogs are fixed pins d, and which, in

Fig. 2, may be seen in the curved slots 9 in V shifting-plate A.

The shifting-plate A, represented by Fig. 4, and seen in operativecombination in Figs. 2 and 5, is a circular plate in which are holes b,and also two curved slots, 9"; also a projection, D.

The object of this plate is to cause a change in the position of thedogs '5 z, alternating at certain points, which may be varied within thepoints of one complete revolution of the wheel, at the will of theoperator; or, in other words, to draw back one of the dogs from contactwith pins 0 o 0 of cog-wheel D, while the other operates upon them,giving to the cogwheel a motion in one direction, (which moves slides Eand F,) say forward, to the extent of one complete revolution or less,until the projection D strikes pin 0 in 'cog-wheel'D.

The motion of the shifting-plate A is then arrested, while plate B,being fixed to cranlp shaft 0, continues to move, dragging with'it thetwo dogs 13 'i, and consequently moving each of pins d fixed to dogs,through the slots g, in shifting-plate A, to the other end of its slot.Thus the dog, which has been driving the cog-wheel, is withdrawn fromservice, and as a result the cog-wheel D reverses its motion, andcarries with it the slides E and F. Gog-wheel D is the object on whichthe shifting-plate A. the adjustable arm G, the dog; it, and projectionD act, and these various operations are to perfect an alternate move-.

ment of the cog-wheel back and forth at any desired point, and make thechange automatically.

Fig. 8 is the adjustable arm by itself, the same appearing incombination in Figs. 2 and 5, and having a projeetiomf, on the underside, which may be placed in any one of the holes b of shifting-plate A,thus making a firm connection therewith, when the nut c on the end ofcrank-shaft O is screwed down.

When the arm G is placed on the shiftingplate A, as seen in Fig. 2, oneend projects beyond its periphery and operates when it impinges againstthe pin 0 in the same manner as projection D of the shifting-plate A,and thus enables the operator, by varying the position of saidadjustable arm G, to lessen or augment the range of the alternatemovement of the cog-wheel, and consequently the throw of the slides Eand F. I I

On the under side of slide F are pins or cogs 0, into which cog-wheel Dworks, and from its revolution causes the slides E and F to moveaccordingly. Slide F is of two parts, F being an extension which ishinged on slide E at a point shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 14, at g. Thatpart of slide F on the face of which are cogs or pins 0 is connectedwith slide E by pins h passing through the slots (1 which pins aresecurely fastened into slide E the object of which slots is to giveslide F a motion in advance of slide E in either direction, the efiectof which-is of special importance to the performance of the invention.

The slides pass through and are guided by extension 0. of thepresser-foot, through an opening of which the cog-wheel D engages andoperates them.

At the extremity of slide F, near the presser-foot and plate of thesewing-machine, is an extension, F, Fig. 14, with a curved projection,I, hinging in slot h, and furnished in the edge nearest the presser-footwith slot 19, through which the needle passes when in the act of sewingthe plaits folded, as hereinafter described. Slide F is hinged on slideE by means of pins '6 and eyes It.

The slide E overlies F, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and terminates also in anextension, E having the edge nearest the presser-foot turned upward at aright angle, or nearly so, provided with a slot, h through which passesthe needle when in the act of sewing. In that edge of extension E whichis to the right when facing the curved portion of slide E is a slot,shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10, through which the cloth to be operatedon passes.

Fig. 15 is used only in box or reverse plaiting, and will be describedhereinafter.

Fig. 18 is a tension-spring attached to extension a of presser-foot, andis seen in operative position at H in Fig. 1, and acts on slide E, andthrough it effecting its connections, and by increasing the frictioncausing their motion to be less easy.

The operation of this invention is as follows: The slides E and F arerun forward or from the presser'foot. Slide F, because of the slots dand because the motion is imparted directly to it, moves first, and tothe extent of the slot (1 before slide E partakes of its motion. Theslot h Fig. 13, acts on projection I, Fig. 14, and tilts up theextension F, so that an opening is formed between E and F, as shown inFig. 1.

The cloth is then inserted. The cog-wheel D reverses, transmits itsmotion to slide F, which moves back the length of the slot 01 therebyacting on projection I and closing the same down on the extension Econfining the cloth between the extensions E and F securely.

The slides continue their motion toward the presserfoot, the lip r ofthe extension E folding the cloth upward and over, and carryin g thefold underneath the presser-foot, where it is sewn down. (The result maybe seen under the presser-foot in Fig. 1 and in the left hand of Fig.21.) The cog-wheel reverses, the slides partake of its motion, and,moving away from the presser-foot, releases the cloth, until theirmotion is again changed, when they repeat the operation just described.Thus, by each complete movement back and forth, it makes one fold ofcloth, which is one-half the width of the space traversed by the slides.

The shape and within limits, the position of the slots 11. in therectangular extension E, may be varied; but the lip 4', turned upward ator near a right angle, I regard asof im portance to the effectiveness ofmy invention.

I now begin with the source of motion, and trace the operation of thisinvention to where motion is imparted to the slides.

The needle-bar conveys its motion through loop a to lever B, thence tocrank-shaft G, the end of which may be seen project-ing through slot E,giving to said crank-shaft a motion forward and backward through but asmall portion of a revolution.

The extent of this motion is variable, however, by adjustable plate I),as aforesaid.

The motion of crank-shaft O is imparted to plate B, and through it toone of the dogs t i, which, acting on pins 0 0 0, drives the cogwheel Din one direction, and continues so to do, carrying the shifting-platewith it, until the projection D strikes pin 0, when the motion of theshifting-plate is arrested, but plate B goes on, causing each of thepins (1 to shift to the other end of its slot, thus releasing the dogwhich was in action and bringing into play the dog that was inoperative.The cogwheel D is then driven in the opposite direction and the motionof the slides E and F is reversed. Should, however, the throw of theslide and, consequently, width of the plait be too great, the operatorshould loosen the nut c on the end of crank-shaft G, raise the longerarm of the adjustable arm G, and place the pin f in any one of the holesI), beginning at the left of projection D, when in position, as shown inFig. 2, and replace the nut on the end of crank-shaft G.

The nearer the arm G-is to the projection D the shorter will be thethrow of the slides E and F, and one-half of the throw of the slide isthe width of the plait.

The part G is a rectangular-shaped plate, the front end of which isprovided with a slot, 1:, for the passage of the needle, and is turneddown at or near a right angle, and the reverse of lip r of slide E andis an attachment to be used in making box and reverse plaiting, and whennot required for that purpose is turned back against slide F, and takesno part in the operation of the machine.

The edge of plate G, opposite to that last mentioned, is provided withthree slots,

A wire, a, crosses the inner end of these 'r slots, to which springl isattached. -L is a projection attached to extension F, and which passesthrough the middle slot 1, and serves as a guide to direct the motion ofthe plate G when it is turned back against the extension F, asaforesaid, or turned down, as in Fig. 11. Parts g and pin 0' areattached to F, and serve merely for connections for spring I. When theplate G is in use, and as long as it continues in use, it compels thecloth to fold the reverse of when the extensions E and F alone are inoperation.

The method of hinging the plate G herein employed may be varied; but toits position in reference to the extensions E and F, and to the lip rturned the reverse of lip r, I attach special importance.

The plate G is used as follows: When it is turned back and not in use,the cloth will fold as shown in Fig. 10. At any time after the slidesmove away from the needle-bar, the plate G may be turned down, when,being. supported on extension F, it will open and close with it. As longas it is turned down it will cause the cloth to roll under, as shown inFig. 11, and will form plaiting the reverse, as shown in Fig. 10, wherethe extensions 13] and F. are alone employed. This is again exhibited inFig. 21, where on the left, appears the plaiting, as made when the plateG is also used.

A box-plait, being the combination of a fold as formed by the slides Eand F, when dent that box-plaiting may be made by this attachment bymaking, first, a fold without the use of the plate G, and then a foldwith G in operation, thus forming by a continuation of such operation aseries of reverse folds similar to the one shown in Fig. 21, marked Q,such operation merely requiring the bringing into operation of the plateG at each alternate fold.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, .is

1. The presser-foot A, with extensions a a and a*, substantially asshown and described.

2. The combination, substantially as described, of the lever B, providedwith the slot E, and the rock-shaft 0, having a crank, e, for thepurposes set forth.

3. The combination, substantially as de-- scribed, of the cog-wheel D,provided with the pin 0, shifting-plate A, provided with projection D,shaft 0, and adjustable arm G, for the purposes set forth.

4. The cog-wheel D, in combination with plate B, the dogs 6 11, withtheir spring 01 and the shifting-plate A, substantially as. shown anddescribed.

5. The combination, substantially as described, of the slides E and F,the latter being provided with an extension, F, hinged to the former, asand for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination, substantially as 'described, of the slides E and F,with their extensions E and F, and of the plate G, as and for thepurposes set forth.

7. The combination, substantially as described, of the cog-wheel D andslides F and E said slides being connected by slots and pins, as setforth, whereby the motion of the slide F is communicated to the slide E,as described.

8. The combination, substantially as described, of therectangular-shaped extension E provided with the lip 1' and the plate G,provided with a reversely-bent lip, v for the purposes set forth.

9. The plate G, in combination with the slides E and F, substantially asshown and described.

'10. The presser-foot A, and its extensions a a and at, in combinationwith the tension-spring H and the slides E and F, substantially as shownand described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in sewing-machinegathering and plaiting attachment, as above described, I have hereuntoset my hand. y LANSING ONDEBDONK.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH HOPKINS, ISAAC J. MAGGABE.

